Healthcare Industry News:  Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy 

Devices Cardiology

 News Release - May 12, 2008

St. Jude Medical Announces the Release of EnSite System Version 8.0 Software

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ ) today announced the release of its EnSite™ System Version 8.0 software. The new software will help physicians more intuitively visualize the anatomy of the heart to diagnose and treat abnormal heart rhythms. St. Jude Medical will feature the EnSite v.8.0 at Heart Rhythm 2008 on May 14 – 17.


The EnSite System is used in minimally invasive electrophysiology (EP) procedures. Catheters with electrodes are inserted into the cardiac chamber and then are located and visualized by the EnSite System, which records electrical information and creates a rendering of the chamber anatomy. The resulting images help physicians create detailed heart models to facilitate the diagnosis and delivery of therapy for abnormal atrial heart rhythms, including Atrial Fibrillation (AF). The EnSite System allows catheter navigation to occur without fluoroscopy and reduces the risk associated with too much exposure to X-rays.

The new EnSite v.8.0 software expands the capability of the EnSite System to help physicians better visualize reentrant arrhythmia circuits, a common abnormal heart rhythm. The EnSite v.8.0 also gives physicians the ability to view how these reentrant circuits propagate or move about the cardiac chamber. This feature improves physicians’ ability to identify the location of the arrhythmia so they have more control over the procedure.

Additional features include map visualization enhancements, which provide a more realistic perspective on the location of catheters, lesions, and anatomical points of interest. EnSite v.8.0 also includes enhancements to the electrical “noise” filters to improve cardiac signal detection and help physicians better analyze low amplitude signals such as complex fractionated electrograms, a growing area of interest for EP physicians.

“This new version of our EnSite System will help physicians better diagnose their patients with arrhythmias,” said Jane J. Song, president of the St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division. “It also underscores our leadership in the industry and our continued dedication to improving the lives of patients.”

Heart Rhythm 2008 takes place May 14-17 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. The meeting is the most comprehensive educational event on heart rhythm disorders, offering 250 educational opportunities in multiple formats. The world’s most renowned scientists and physicians will present a wide range of heart rhythm topics including advances in statins, Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy, catheter ablation, cardiac pacing and heart failure and the latest technology, including state-of-the-art pacemakers and defibrillators. www.HRSonline.org

St. Jude Medical Highlights at Heart Rhythm 2008

On Thursday, May 15 at 1:30 p.m., during the oral abstract session, Andrew Epstein, M.D., will present the results of multiple St. Jude Medical lead registries. The studies analyzed the experience of more than 7,000 patients who were implanted with Riata high voltage leads. In addition, St. Jude Medical will showcase new cardiac leads and cardiac lead implant tools, new electronic health record connectivity features and the company’s cardiac rhythm management device programmer (which is now available in eight languages).

About St. Jude Medical

St. Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus on putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide. The company is dedicated to advancing the practice of medicine by reducing risk wherever possible and contributing to successful outcomes for every patient. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., St. Jude Medical employs more than 12,000 people worldwide and has five major focus areas that include: cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiac surgery, cardiology and neuromodulation. For more information, please visit www.sjm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include the expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including potential clinical successes, anticipated regulatory approvals and future product launches, and projected revenues, margins, earnings, and market shares. The statements made by the Company are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include market conditions and other factors beyond the Company’s control and the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including those described in the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2008. The Company does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstance.


Source: St. Jude Medical

Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.



FindReps - Find Great Medical Independent Sales Reps without recruiter fees.
FindReps - available on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad.